"Corona" is dominating us. I have listened to many reports, commentaries and forecasts over the last few days. What is this state of emergency doing to me? Am I afraid for myself, for my loved ones, for my company?
At first, you could often still hear the egotism of individuals. Like a conversation on Hessian radio, for example. A listener asked: "I was skiing in South Tyrol until yesterday. This morning my employer sent me home. Who's paying for that now?" Questions that also irritated me a week ago. Just like the "corona parties" of some young people. The longer this "corona crisis" goes on, the more the awareness of our population changes. Today, a week later, the focus is on other questions: "I have a hairdressing salon with two employees that we have to close from today. What should we do now?" Or: "My husband and I opened a flower store six months ago. The loans are still running, but the customers are no longer allowed to come. We don't know what to do next!". Not to mention the large companies that have to send their employees home.
The special thing about this "corona" is that everyone is affected. Privately, commercially, economically, emotionally. A test for the world, or is it even a liberation of the world from the people? Suddenly, the focus is no longer on profit optimization, but on life and survival.
But other things are happening alongside these fears. Parents are spending time with their children, schoolchildren are doing homework voluntarily, the gap between employers and employees is narrowing, politicians are working together. The era of new ideas, creative thinking and a common Europe is beginning. In the medical field, countries around the world are already helping each other out.
Our economy will also follow this path. Competitors and rivals will become partners. What one can no longer do, the other will take over. And this is precisely where our strength lies. We have learned from the past decades. That it is not savings and redundancies that lead to the goal, but investment. Our government provides the bulk of the economic support, we provide the creative and future-oriented new start.
And here is an example:
We, the company Gravitech, are a "5-woman operation", active in analytical chemistry. We are also suffering from the coronavirus pandemic. Nevertheless, we will be starting our planned new building this year. A new path that invests in training, education, research and new developments. We firmly believe in our shared future with you. Every challenge releases new energy and opens up new paths. Believe in yourself, in your employees, in your employer. Then we will be able to emerge stronger from a situation that has not been seen for centuries and treat ourselves and the world with greater care.
I am already looking forward to the next creative discussions in your company, at trade fairs, in a nice restaurant, in order to shape our future with you.
Stay healthy,
Dr. Elke Spahn, Gravitech GmbH
